I'm a big Rascal Flatts fan! Just in case you were wondering. When there song "Changed" came out, I was excited because one of my favorite country artists had a pretty awesome song out. I never really thought about the song itself, (You should go and listen to it! Right now...it won't disappoint!) until about 20 minutes ago.
I grew up in a Christian home, going to church every single Sunday, was involved in church activities, such as helping out in the nursery, going to different youth groups, I also went to a Christian school from K5 to 12th grade. I was saved when I was eight years old. I remember that day very clearly. I think I always will. Growing up, I was always surrounded by Christians, and for the most part I still am. I sat through a Bible class every single week day, I sat through other classes where Jesus always came up in the conversation. I sat under preaching every single Sunday, sometimes twice on a Sunday. Saturdays were centered around Christ too. So, I've heard a lot about Christ.
Since I was around so many christian peers, teachers, family, and leaders, I looked at God as just this being who was always there, but I didn't really need to talk to Him ever because I knew that I was "okay". I was saved and Christ was in almost every conversation. Why would I need a relationship with somebody that I can't even see? That's the mindset that I was living with, until about a couple months ago.
Over the past four months God has brought so many Christians into my life. You might be thinking, "Oh more Christians...well what's going to change now." I honestly thought the same thing. For some time I wanted to get as faraway from the Christian life-style as possible. And just when I thought I was about to, God grabbed a hold of my heart and said, "Excuse me, you're going to be changed by me". And that's exactly what happened. I started leading a small group at my church. I lead four freshman girls and the experience has forever changed my life.
When I first decided to be a part of the youth group, I signed up for the wrong reasons. I signed up because I wanted more friends because all of my old friends were away at school. I signed up because i wanted to meet a guy...i met a guy...and it blew up in my face. Which i am now very thankful for. But, I also signed up because I knew that I had to be an example to high school students, and I truly knew in my heart that it would be good for me. And it has been! I wanted to help guide these girls because I don't want them to make the same mistakes that I did, in high school. It took about two and a half months until I really let God get a hold of my heart. I was excited to be a part of this ministry, but at the same time I still felt like I was "safe", like I didn't need that relationship with Christ because here I am, once again surrounded by all these Christians. But, the people that I am serving with have shown what it's like to be saved by grace and be changed by God, in a way that I had never seen, and I wanted that!
Ya know how you hear somebody's grace story, and they might say how they were addicted to drugs and God completely changed there life around? To be completely honest, growing up I kind of wanted to have that type of grace story. But I am now realizing that God is completely changing my life around. I was never addicted to drugs, but I was addicted to living a life of trying to find satisfaction in everything, but God. Let me just tell you, it does not work!
I always knew that God was the answer because that's what i was taught, but I never really wanted it. I never wanted it until I met four freshman girls. And I knew that I was not going to be able to guide these girls in the right direction, in the way that God wanted me to, until I let God take a hold of my own heart. And I am so grateful for a God who is forgiving and who loves, like...i don't even know....He just loves and loves, and you can't even grasp it! For the first time, in my life I feel changed. I feel like God is molding my heart into something beautiful. And I am so excited to see what GOD has for me, in my life.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing. - Zephaniah 3:17
